President Trump was pulled away by a Secret Service agent during Monday’s briefing, but returned minutes later and said there was a shooting outside the White House.The president had been speaking about the stock market when a Secret Service agent interrupted him at the podium only minutes into the briefing.
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought were also taken out of the room.
Mr Trump said he understood the person who was shot was armed and was taken to hospital. No-one else was injured. “It seems to be very well under control … But there was an actual shooting, and somebody has been taken to the hospital. I don’t know the condition of the person.”
Two law enforcement officials with knowledge of the investigation said no weapon was recovered at the scene.
On Twitter, the Secret Service said that no entry was made into the White House complex and that none of those under the service’s protection were ever in danger.
Outside the White House, the situation was calm, but a portion of the surrounding streets had been blocked off, with a number of police and other official vehicles converging towards the corner of 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.
